Mysterious Lockbox
"I heard that the boss specially created a new project for Assistant You to make him happy."
"It's all just a trick big bosses use to coax their mistresses."
"Who knows how long the boss's interest will last? Men are all like that."
"Your assistant is indeed beautiful. If you were that good-looking, you could seduce the boss too."
Since the name was finalized, You Jiale could occasionally be seen in the office, but the way people looked at him always carried a somewhat ambiguous meaning. As for the rumors about him and Zhang Xiande, they were like weeds in a field, growing back after being pulled out one after another, becoming more and more exaggerated with each passing year.
"Ugh, what's wrong with these people's brains?" You Jiale muttered to himself. Sure enough, with so many people, there's bound to be gossip. But then he thought about how Zhang Xiande, that old fox, was a man with unusual hobbies in the original book, and besides, You Jiale also admitted that his looks were a gift from God.
What these people didn't know was that their shrewd boss was currently facing a hot potato, and besides You Jiale, there might not be anyone else who could handle it.
Just wait and see; one day, he will make Zhang Xiande willingly vindicate him.
With the name "Leji Delivery" settled, You Jiale got busy. He devoured the business plan he had painstakingly drafted, reading it over and over like he was gnawing on a pig's trotter. Considering the one-month deadline Zhang Xiande had given him, he felt even more determined to tear himself into eight pieces.
The most important thing was finding a place to settle down. In the early stages of starting a business, you had to be careful with your spending. You Jiale inquired and found that Zhang's Industrial had a vacant courtyard in the west of the city, a former warehouse that had been empty for a long time. The courtyard wasn't large, but after some tidying up, it would be enough to handle initial orders and manage manpower.
Back in his office, You Jiale thought, "After all, the original owner was the president's special assistant. Surely there should be some business information in his office that could help him with his 'export business'? He can't just be good at serving tea and water."
He rummaged through the old filing cabinet against the wall; the doors were loose and creaked. Unexpectedly, at the very bottom, he found a locked wooden box. The box looked quite old; the lock was rusty. Curious, You Jiale weighed it in his hand; it was heavy, and it seemed to contain something made of paper.
What treasures could be in this box? And why is it locked so securely? Could it be a secret that can't be brought to light? Or some little secret that the original owner of this body hid away?
You Jiale searched for a long time, using screwdrivers, wires, and everything else he could find, but the old lock just wouldn't budge, as if it were defying him.
Forget it, if you've encountered a hurdle you can't overcome, take a break first.
You Jiale temporarily abandoned her plan to pry open the box, stuffing it back deep inside the cabinet, thinking she'd find a reliable locksmith later. Perhaps there was more private information about that unfortunate "Assistant You" hidden inside.
But right now, the more pressing issue is recruiting. You Jiale started placing job ads in the newspaper and posting colorful flyers at busy street corners. Quite a few people applied, but most of them were neighbors from the neighborhood, which made her seem a bit... how should I put it... too down-to-earth.
Zhang Xiande, that old fox, has sharp eyes; he seemed to have noticed You Jiale's recruitment activities as well. During the routine office briefing, Zhang Xiande asked, "Are you recruiting recently? How's it going?"
You Jiale glanced at him sideways, snorted inwardly, but said aloud, "It's alright, quite a few people came, I'm still carefully selecting. 'Leji Delivery' is a new brand after all, the staff's quality has to be decent." After saying that, she plopped down on the guest sofa next to Zhang Xiande as if she were at home, leaned back, and crossed her legs.
Zhang Xiande glanced at his smooth and fluid movements, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly recovered. "Hmm, it's good that you have this awareness. However, there's no need to be too demanding in the early stages. Let's get the framework set up first."
Where did that carefree, unruly playboy aura come from? Zhang Xiande wondered to himself. He looked like the same person, but deep down, something was just not right.
You Jiale knew exactly what was going on. It seemed that this domineering CEO was no pushover; he knew everything.
A few days after I finished reporting on my work.
One day, just as You Jiale was about to step out of the office, she almost bumped into Secretary Li, who was raising her hand to knock on the door.
"Secretary Li, how come I always bump into you at the office door?" You Jiale pouted and glanced at the person standing at the door.
Secretary Li adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses still sharp and meticulous. He said calmly, "Assistant You, the boss has assigned you a secretary to assist you with 'Leji' affairs. Report for duty tomorrow." Secretary Li's tone was as indifferent as if he were simply commenting on how good the cafeteria food was today.
You Jiale knew in his heart that the old fox was definitely on guard against him. He'd just send an informant to keep an eye on him.
He put on a naive smile and said politely to Secretary Li, "Oh, Secretary Li, you're too kind. Please thank the boss for his concern; it's very heartwarming. I'm also looking forward to the new secretary; I just happen to need someone to run errands."
Without hesitation, You Jiale quickly set up the headquarters of "Leji Delivery" in an empty courtyard in the west of the city. He hired a few workers to do some tinkering and moved in a few crooked tables and chairs. Although it still looked a bit shabby, it finally had the feel of a startup company.
The recruitment notices were posted, like casting a net, but what they caught was a mixed bag – rotten lobsters, crabs, small fish, and shrimp. The truly capable candidates could be counted on one hand. Most of the people who came were idle locals with no stable jobs. They were curious about this new "delivery" business, but whether they could actually do it well was something You Jiale had serious doubts about.
Just as they were racking their brains over hiring, the new secretary arrived. She looked quite smart in her black suit, her hair was slicked back, her face was expressionless, but You Jiale could feel the blatant scrutiny in her eyes even from three meters away.
"Tsk, you're obviously a spy, little brother. I'll definitely get one of my own later." You Jiale's mind was racing with calculations.
"Assistant You, I am Qin Zheng. I was sent by Boss Zhang to assist you with your work." Qin Zheng's tone was arrogant and aloof.
Yu Jiale, quick as a flash, put his arm around Qin Zheng's shoulder like a close buddy, greeting him with the enthusiasm of a brother: "Oh, Mr. Qin, hello! I've been waiting for you! I'm so busy and desperately need help!"
Qin Zheng was taken aback by his overly familiar actions, probably not expecting Assistant You to be so...unrestrained, but surprisingly he didn't push him away.
You Jiale could sense the composure emanating from Qin Zheng. He was clearly no ordinary person.
You Jiale knew what Qin Zheng was up to.
He put his arm around Qin Zheng's shoulder in a friendly manner, and then poured out all sorts of trivial problems they were facing.
Over the next few days, You Jiale took a break and dumped the task of interviewing all those unqualified candidates onto Qin Zheng, while she herself began to figure out how to get the initial delivery and order-taking team up.
Among the job applicants were burly young men and women with simple, honest faces hoping to earn more money for their families. You Jiale patiently explained the grand vision and work process of "Leji Delivery" to them, just like a pyramid scheme leader, trying to paint a rosy picture of the promising future of this emerging industry.
During the interviews, Qin Zheng stood like a wooden stake, rarely speaking, but quietly taking notes on the applicants' basic information and the interview process in a small notebook. His meticulous attitude and piercing gaze made some applicants who had initially boasted incessantly toned down their glib tongues.
Qin Zheng wasn't stupid, so he naturally noticed You Jiale's occasional glances. He didn't even lift his eyelids, simply turning his head away and pretending he hadn't seen anything.
After a few days of procrastination, Qin Zheng tentatively selected a few delivery drivers and order takers who seemed reliable enough. Delivery drivers, for example, had to be strong and robust, and ideally, know every nook and cranny of the western part of the city like the back of their hand; order takers, on the other hand, needed to be eloquent and quick-witted, able to clearly remember all the customers' various needs.
The night before the official start of construction, You Jiale gathered all the newly recruited people in the courtyard. Without any fanfare, he stood on a makeshift, dilapidated wooden plank and passionately declared, "Everyone! Listen up! What we're going to do isn't some small-scale food delivery business! We're going to make it so that everyone in the city can have delicious meals delivered to their doorstep with just a few taps on their phone! 'Leji Delivery' isn't just delivering food; it's a revolution that will overturn everyone's lifestyle!"
His words were inspiring, igniting everyone's anticipation. However, some raised very practical concerns, such as how to ensure a smooth delivery route, how to prevent theft, and what to do in case of bad weather like wind or rain.
Just as You Jiale was patiently answering these questions, Qin Zheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up slowly: "Regarding delivery routes, perhaps we can divide them according to the characteristics of the western part of the city and set up several fixed pick-up and delivery points, which can improve efficiency." He paused and continued: "In terms of cargo security, we can consider equipping each deliveryman with a uniform cloth bag and stamping it with a seal to indicate responsibility."
I knew this Assistant Qin was hiding something.
Since you've been eyeing me like prey, don't blame me for using you as a weapon. Who told you to deliver yourself to my doorstep?
“Mr. Qin makes a very good point!” You Jiale pretended to suddenly understand and nodded repeatedly. “We can adopt Mr. Qin’s suggestion, divide the area into zones, and uniformly equip them with cloth bags with the ‘Leji Delivery’ logo!”
However, it must be admitted that Zhang Xiande's arrangement of Qin Zheng's arrival might not have been solely for surveillance; the old man had inadvertently provided him with an intangible form of assistance. After all, in this era, Qin Zheng, a native, was far more capable than him, a transmigrator from a book.
"Mr. Qin, it's such a waste of your talents to have you as my secretary," You Jiale said with a smile, looking at Qin Zheng.
"It's all part of my duty," Qin Zheng replied expressionlessly, not wanting to waste any more words with him.
"Would you report to your boss how many times I go to the toilet each day?" You Jiale teased him deliberately.
"That depends on what the boss thinks," Qin Zheng said stiffly.
"You really don't hide anything..." You Jiale pouted.
"..." Qin Zheng was also quite surprised that Assistant You had seen through him so quickly. However, he wasn't angry, since his purpose for coming was clear.
And so, the makeshift team of "Leji Delivery" was initially set up.
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